tarot card readers mediums do you believe?

Just as the title says got one friend who goes a least once a month ! Swears by them.l am very wary thoughts?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haP7Ys9ocTk

Derren Brown gives a pretty good explanation as to how most Mediums work. I'm completely open to the fact there could be some that are legitimate, but generally most would operate that way.

Morag

Once a month I think is excessive tbh, sounds like she is going as a distraction/enterainment or just to have someone to talk to. If she has issues she is trying to resolve she'd be best of seeing a counsellor for about the same cost.

MagicMarker

Scam artists the lot of them.

Storminateacup

Went twice and while i'd be skeptical of them now, at the time they were the best money I spent. Even if they stuffed me with lies it was what I needed to hear

amacachi

Thieves and/or liars.

Posy

MagicMarker wrote: »

Scam artists the lot of them.

amacachi wrote: »

Thieves and/or liars.

+1

I have no idea how shuffling a deck of cards and randomly picking one can predict someone's future.
When I think of psychics either:
(a) They're a scam artist and swindling me out of my cash or
(b) HIGHLY UNLIKELY- they can predict the future, in which case I certainly wouldn't want to know!

I never have/would never go to one. I've better things to waste my money on! :pac:

candy-gal1

if theyre that good and know whats coming up in life, their lives must be truly great, with knowing the lottery numbers and all :rolleyes:

whoopi goldberg in ghost comes to mind!

Morag

I would get my cards read every 6 months to 18months depending if I feel the need to.
I have friends who have the skill/nack and I prefer to get them to do it but occasionally it can be good to go to a complete stranger who knows nothing about my life and see what comes up in the spread.

Tarot cards have a long history and are rich in symbolism and fair enough if a person thinks they are utter hokum no one is forcing you to get a reading done.

Posy

candy-gal1 wrote: »

whoopi goldberg in ghost comes to mind!

Ha, that's who I was thinking of there!

The Big Red Button

Absolute rubbish, in my opinion.

It's scary the amount of power they have though. A good friend of mine has been with a guy on and off for several years. He's cheated on her and he's a drug dealer, she's broken up with him because of this before (she's never done drugs herself.)

Anyways she recently went to some psychic, who told her that the man she's with now mightnt be perfect, but he's going through a bad phase, but she should accept his failings and stick with him because they are going to end up very happily married with three kids, and he'll be the perfect husband and father.

So, now, she's basically letting him away with anything.

Now I know it's her own fault for being so stupidly naive and impressionable. But I just really dislike people who would make money out of taking advantage of someone as vulnerable as my friend.

Giselle

There are two types of spiritualist/medium/psychic/snake oil salesperson. The genuinely deluded who believe they have a 'gift', and the exploitationists who simply prey on vulnerable people in search of answers.

If you need to feel some control over your life, convincing yourself you have a glimpse into the future/guidance from beyond the grave or whatever, from some coloured bits of cardboard, is not the way to go about it.

Kash

It is based on the Forer Effect... that basically if you think that the reading/analysis is about you, and it is sufficiently vague that you can apply your own interpretation, you will rate it with a high degree of accuracy.

From wikipedia:

In 1948, psychologist Bertram R. Forer gave a personality test to his students. He told his students they were each receiving a unique personality analysis that was based on the test's results and to rate their analysis on a scale of 0 (very poor) to 5 (excellent) on how well it applied to themselves. In reality, each received the same analysis:

“You have a great need for other people to like and admire you. You have a tendency to be critical of yourself. You have a great deal of unused capacity which you have not turned to your advantage. While you have some personality weaknesses, you are generally able to compensate for them. Disciplined and self-controlled outside, you tend to be worrisome and insecure inside. At times you have serious doubts as to whether you have made the right decision or done the right thing. You prefer a certain amount of change and variety and become dissatisfied when hemmed in by restrictions and limitations. You pride yourself as an independent thinker and do not accept others' statements without satisfactory proof. You have found it unwise to be too frank in revealing yourself to others. At times you are extroverted, affable, sociable, while at other times you are introverted, wary, reserved. Some of your aspirations tend to be pretty unrealistic. Security is one of your major goals in life.”

On average, the rating was 4.26, but only after the ratings were turned in was it revealed that each student had received identical copies assembled by Forer from various horoscopes. As can be seen from the profile, there are a number of statements that could apply equally to anyone. These statements later became known as Barnum statements, after P.T. Barnum.

Personally, I think it's fascinating. I've never been to a 'psychic', but have read the cards numerous times myself. I don't belive they can predict the future, but do believe they can be a way of examining your own psyche, allowing you to identify issues (and indeed answers) that you may be missing, not by mystical means, but by letting yourself truly focus on yourself. Of course, the same thing could be done without the cards, but sometimes things are easier with a prop.

I duno... i think maybe there could be something to it
however i also think the vast majority of people out there selling it are chancers
same for the two psychics i went to
one told me i was going to marry someone i already know and probably the guy i was seeing at the time - not bloody likely, he was a total asshole
another one told a friend who went that they'd be married by the time they were 27
friend bursts out laughing
"why, you don't think it's likely?"
"i'm 31"

notsobusy

I wenr to one 4 years ago. I was going through a really rough time and i suppose i just wanted to go for a bit of craic and to see what she said. I did my research on who to go and was told by several people she was very reputable.

she absolutely stunned me with the things she came out with about my present and future.

But she also advised me that you should only go to a medium once every 6 months. I was a bit of a skeptic before i went in and now i beleive some people have a gift and some dont.

pickarooney

bluewolf wrote: »

I duno... i think maybe there could be something to it
however i also think the vast majority of people out there selling it are chancers
same for the two psychics i went to
one told me i was going to marry someone i already know and probably the guy i was seeing at the time - not bloody likely, he was a total asshole
another one told a friend who went that they'd be married by the time they were 27
friend bursts out laughing
"why, you don't think it's likely?"
"i'm 31"

Et tu, Bluete?

You're the last person I would have expected to give these charlatans the time of day.

pickarooney

pickarooney wrote: »

Et tu, Bluete?

You're the last person I would have expected to give these charlatans the time of day.

i went to the first one at the insistence and badgering of my mother
i went to the other because "he's really good to talk to and it'll be a laugh anyway"
he wasn't, it wasn't, and i won't be going back again

Fluorescence

bluewolf wrote: »

i went to the first one at the insistence and badgering of my mother
i went to the other because "he's really good to talk to and it'll be a laugh anyway"
he wasn't, it wasn't, and i won't be going back again

Lack of grammatical structure and punctuation, plus may or may not believe in mediums...

Who are you and what have you done with Bluewolf? :eek: :P

fatmammycat

Liars and charlatans. Truly awful people.

gcgirl

I think anyone who thinks these people are telling the truth should really assess their life

fluorescence

fluorescence wrote: »

Lack of grammatical structure and punctuation, plus may or may not believe in mediums...

Who are you and what have you done with Bluewolf? :eek: :P

Pay 10 euro a minute to find out now!

Dudess

Friends had a reading and said she got some pretty specific stuff right - like names and ornaments in a room. That surprised me, but otherwise I'm skeptical.

Oryx

The paranormal forum deals with this topic every day. (What do you mean you didnt know we had a paranormal forum here? ) I dont think someone should see a psychic every month. Thats someone attempting to put their choices into someone elses hands rather than dealing with things themselves. It's not healthy.

Ive seen some good psychics. Ive seen some godawful ones. I dont have any problem with the use or belief in such things, but I do have a huge problem with the obscene amounts of money being charged by unqualified and untested people for what is basically an unregulated counselling service.

krudler

I'd genuinely question the sanity of anyone who thinks tarot readers are anything more than complete scam artists and scumbags, These people use simple psychology to prey on vunerable people who need answers to something, absolute conmen/women

Going back to Derren Brown again - did anyone see the wonderful documentary he did about mediums? The conclusion he came to somewhat is that perhaps it's not a bad thing that they are there, regardless of whether they're real or not; they provide comfort to those who are recently bereft and also help those move on.

Morag

Giselle wrote: »

There are two types of spiritualist/medium/psychic/snake oil salesperson. The genuinely deluded who believe they have a 'gift', and the exploitationists who simply prey on vulnerable people in search of answers.

Yes, yes the same way people are deluded about God/s. :rolleyes:

And now some one else has said I am insane, charming.


You don't have to believe you have a 'gift' to use Tarot cards.
They are filled with Jungian archetypes and symbolism.

Nyan Cat

No I don't believe. I was really interested in this kind of stuff when I was younger. I read many a book on psychics. Mediums, tarot readers - even numerology and the effects the cosmos may have on us. I was open to the theory it wasn't all crap.
But the more I read - as intriguing as it could be - the more skeptical I became. I think the future is not written. The only gift any of these people probably have is the ability to read people and the visual cues.

Every choice we make leads to what may happen in our lives. It's not seeing the future to predict what may happen but understanding patterns and what kind of choices and a persons history is a skill. Ever noticed a psychic etc always starts a reading by 'stating' things about your past or you as a person? However vague. This gives you a feel for the type of person and history you're dealing with and thus what kind of reading to give.

There are plenty of charlatans who cannot even read people and are in it solely for the money.

However you can't really discount that things like this does bring comfort to some folks. Like a religion does for others. Its unfortunate that it isn't regulated so people can be taken for an (expensive) ride

MagicMarker

Sharrow wrote: »

They are filled with Jungian archetypes and symbolism.

What exactly does that mean in real life?

Ickle Magoo

Folks,

There are ways and means of carrying on a discussion without being petty or insulting to other posters who don't share your point of view.

Remember, flaming is against site rules.

Anyone who hasn't already done so, could you please familiarise yourself with the forum charter HERE and post accordingly.

Many thanks.

Miguel_Sanchez

Tarot card readings belong in the same bin as homeopathy.

Morag

MagicMarker wrote: »

What exactly does that mean in real life?

If you are interested in learning more then I suggest you read up on Jung and his work
Man and His Symbols http://www.amazon.com/Man-Symbols-Carl-Gustav-Jung/dp/0440351839

Havermeyer

Oryx wrote: »

I dont have any problem with the use or belief in such things, but I do have a huge problem with the obscene amounts of money being charged by unqualified and untested people for what is basically an unregulated counselling service.

I'm not trying to be smart, but as opposed to which qualified and tested people?

Neyite

If there are genuine ones, I've never met one. A relative makes good money reading the cards, and out of politeness when they offer a reading I will sit with them. I genuinely believe that they believe they are genuine, but boy, have they got a lot of stuff wrong.

I think with the vast majority, they become a self fullilling prophecy - If you are told that you are going to go abroad that year and you never considered it, then you probably start browsing holiday destinations and round up your mates.

If you are told that one of your friends may be going behind your back, well you take a closer look at the less loyal ones, dont you?

If they say you are going to meet a dark haired man who is the one- well you probably wont look twice at the fair haired bloke trying to chat you up. (no joke - a friend of mine had men hanging out of her but because none of them met the physical characteristics the fortune teller described she wouldnt even give them the time of day. Then she would moan all the time about how single and unhappy she was :rolleyes:)

I have seen girls race up the aisle with a guy and you know the loan for the wedding will last far longer than the marriage, just because the are approaching an age where a fortune teller told them they would be getting married.

I believe that they are grand for a bit of a giggle but I dont believe that you should live your life according to them.

Miguel_Sanchez

The whole business of 'oh the things they told me were amazing' can usually be explained by cold-reading. Someone like Keith Barry is very good at it. It's deduction and patter and the quick sense to pick up on little things that the customer gives away about themselves unwittingly.

The entertainment value is all very well and good but basing life decisions on advice given to you by a total stranger who's only after your money is not smart.

In general would card readers' customers be more female than male? I generally hear about psychics from women rather than men which is odd to me.

Silverfish

I don't believe in it, and the last two times I went to get my palm read for the craic, I was sent away because she 'couldn't get a reading'.

However, my skepticism aside, I did once get a message from a medium the other side of the country. My sister had passed away, and a not very close cousin had gone to a medium while on holidays, a year or two later. He said that he'd been waiting for her, and had a message to give to me. He described my sister, her hobbies, what had happened to her, and to tell me she was happy now.

Bizarre stuff. Couldn't figure it out. I assumed he could have 1) read our local newspaper, 2) guessed or 3) the story was embellished somewhat. My cousin hadn't even mentioned her, since she was there for something else entirely.

krudler

nummnutts wrote: »

I'm not trying to be smart, but as opposed to which qualified and tested people?

ha yeah, there are "qualified" mediums? do they have a phd in bullsh1t?

Maple

krudler wrote: »

nummnutts wrote: »

I'm not trying to be smart, but as opposed to which qualified and tested people?

ha yeah, there are "qualified" mediums? do they have a phd in bullsh1t?

Krudler, dial it back a tad.

Final warning to play nicely please folks.

Maple

MagicMarker

Sharrow wrote: »

If you are interested in learning more then I suggest you read up on Jung and his work
Man and His Symbols http://www.amazon.com/Man-Symbols-Carl-Gustav-Jung/dp/0440351839

Thanks, but I'm just trying to see the link between that and Tarrot cards? Paintings, photos, movies, books can all contain symbolism but they're not trying to predict my future.

It's one thing to try and interpret a dream you had last night and another to go and give money to some randomer to have random cards with pictures on them dealt out in front of you and be told that they mean this that and the other.

Defiler Of The Coffin

Sharrow wrote: »

Tarot cards have a long history and are rich in symbolism and fair enough if a person thinks they are utter hokum no one is forcing you to get a reading done.

Just because a fraudulent practice isn't forced on someone does that make it ok?

The tarot card readers cover their asses by branding it as "entertainment" but it still exploits vulnerable people IMO.

Amy33

I went to one in Galway a fortnight ago, the first thing she said was that I was going to get married and have two children - I'm 35, single, don't believe in marriage and don't want children, she couldn't have got it more wrong!!

yeppydeppy

Amy33 wrote: »

I went to one in Galway a fortnight ago, the first thing she said was that I was going to get married and have two children - I'm 35, single, don't believe in marriage and don't want children, she couldn't have got it more wrong!!

Well Amy, what did you expect? Don't take me up wrong but somewhere deep down you know it's a scam, right?

Ave Sodalis

I don't think they're real, at least I hope not!
A family member went to one recently and she was told that next year, a close relation beginning with C will fall pregnant... guess who's the only close relation with a name beginning with C!
It's unlikely because I only see my boyfriend twice (maybe 3 times) a year and every time, I'm on the Pill and he uses condoms. I hope not because I'm only 17 and in my first year of uni :P

sasser

I don't believe in them. What I find curious is that I always hear of women going to them, many waiting to be told some magic news about meeting a man orgetting marrying, or having a baby. Some going so often it's sprung. I never hear men going on about them, and none of my male friends have gone, I wonder what that says about the differences between the sexes?

starlit

I am big into believing in horoscopes but wouldn't really believe tarot reader mediums unless recommended by someone.

MagicMarker

doovdela wrote: »

I am big into believing in horoscopes but wouldn't really believe tarot reader mediums unless recommended by someone.

Oh dear jesus don't get me started on horoscopes. How anyone can take that nonsense seriously is beyond me.

Giselle

Sharrow wrote: »

Yes, yes the same way people are deluded about God/s. :rolleyes:

Yes. Exactly.

And I said the so-called practitioners were deluded, but to be honest, believing that coloured bits of paper predict or explain anything, rich in symbolism as they might be is, in my humble opinion, irrational, illogical, unproven, ill-advised, and naive.

I believe psychics, mediums, et al are either deluded or fraudulent. Other people are welcome to believe whatever they want.

Eve_Dublin

Although I would like them to be real, I don't believe in pre-destined fated, so no.

Babybuff

I used to read the cards. My mother bought me a deck when I was fairly young, she did it mostly I feel because she just wanted someone to give her a reading..and she often spent large quantities giving her money over to more unscrupulous people. Outside of how these readings transpired I found myself like a counsellor to her and the cards my props, the pictures were just enough for me to draw a message of encouragement from.

I spent a few years preoccupying myself with the learning and memorising of the suits, I even drew my own as a way of ingraining the subject to memory. I never gave a "bad" reading, I wanted to make her happy and it was easy to interpret any card as a positive which I always did.
One day a neighbour saw my cards and asked did I read, I told her I did but only as a hobby but sure enough she requested a draw and one of the cards "could have" suggested a death but not in the immediate family way but that someone she might have known indirectly. I wasn't used to looking at the cards that way and hesitated in saying as much but I thought wth ..and said it..not thinking anything of it.
A couple of days later there was a death and I knew the person it had affected too. It still bothers me to talk about it as it impacts me as much now as it did then, because of the nature of it and I swore I would never so much as look at a deck of cards again.
I threw them on the fire and never looked back.

(I know you will say "coincidence" or whatever needs to be said to rationalise these kind of situations but the truth is I would never choose to be in a position of being the one who reveal any kind of information that could possibly affect someone negatively, coincidence or not)


I bought my mother angel cards and she was able to pick one herself when she sought some positive inspiration..much better.

Bubblefett

I used to read Tarot Cards when I was a teen- nothing special, picked up a book and card set in easons one day and worked away (not very mystical). Entertained me for a few years. I think I did it more cause it seemed a cool thing to be able to do, but I don't think I ever really believed in it. Haven't touched it in years and no intention to.

Never went to a professional reader though, always seemed like a waste of money when my €7 book told me everything they'd say.

As for psychics, yeah I believe there's a skill involved but no more than tuned intuition- knowing how someones feeling by how they walk/enter a room etc and using that to talk to them. I don't believe they're conversing with our dead relatives or seeing into our future.

Starokan

I would believe that there are card readers/mediums who are genuine and possess the abilities to glimpse the future or contact someone who is dead.

We possess 5 senses which give all of us the ability to taste, to smell to hear,to see & to touch. Most of us will have read about or have heard mention of a sixth sense, this sixth sense is intuition. I believe that true psychics/mediums etc are in touch with their sixth sense. The more in touch with their sixth sense they are hence the better medium/psychic they make.

We give off an enormous range of emotions every day e.g. anger/hate/love/joy/sadness/despair/hope. We are constantly thinking or projecting what we wish to happen in our lives be it a better job, a relative to get better or a wish to find someone to love.

It is not inconceivable to me to believe that someone completely in tune with their sixth sense could pick up on this and make a somewhat accurate reading as to ones future life.

Of course there are hundreds of charlatans out there and unfortunately many unhappy people who will pay a lot of money to them. The ones that particularly annoy me are the premium psychic lines and text services that can really suck someone in.

That does not mean however that all people in this field are this way.

Miguel_Sanchez

Babybuff wrote: »

I used to read the cards. My mother bought me a deck when I was fairly young, she did it mostly I feel because she just wanted someone to give her a reading..and she often spent large quantities giving her money over to more unscrupulous people. Outside of how these readings transpired I found myself like a counsellor to her and the cards my props, the pictures were just enough for me to draw a message of encouragement from.

I spent a few years preoccupying myself with the learning and memorising of the suits, I even drew my own as a way of ingraining the subject to memory. I never gave a "bad" reading, I wanted to make her happy and it was easy to interpret any card as a positive which I always did.
One day a neighbour saw my cards and asked did I read, I told her I did but only as a hobby but sure enough she requested a draw and one of the cards "could have" suggested a death but not in the immediate family way but that someone she might have known indirectly. I wasn't used to looking at the cards that way and hesitated in saying as much but I thought wth ..and said it..not thinking anything of it.
A couple of days later there was a death and I knew the person it had affected too. It still bothers me to talk about it as it impacts me as much now as it did then, because of the nature of it and I swore I would never so much as look at a deck of cards again.
I threw them on the fire and never looked back.

(I know you will say "coincidence" or whatever needs to be said to rationalise these kind of situations but the truth is I would never choose to be in a position of being the one who reveal any kind of information that could possibly affect someone negatively, coincidence or not)


I bought my mother angel cards and she was able to pick one herself when she sought some positive inspiration..much better.

But when you think about it hardly a week goes by without the death of someone you've known indirectly in your life. Especially as you get older. If someone told me that there was going to be a death every fortnight for the past year then the majority of times they'd be right. That's not the cards predicting anything it's just the cards saying something obvious and the person being more aware of the death then when it happens.